On Saturday November 22nd, I made my way into Dublin city centre to attend my second show of the weekend in The Academy. On the bill for the night was the iconic 90s band Wheatus, playing the first of two dates on the island, as part of their 18 date UK/Ireland tour. Having played their last Irish performance in Whelan’s main room in 2023, this tour marks a significant milestone for the group, celebrating the 25th anniversary of their infamous debut album which featured the hit track ‘Teenage Dirtbag’.
Support on the night came from Gabrielle Sterbenz, one of the backing vocalists of Wheatus, accompanied onstage by her producer and Wheatus founding band member Philip A. Jimenez and fellow backing vocalists. This was a new situation for me as I had never seen the opening artist be directly involved with the headline act, this move was a refreshing one. I hadn’t encountered Sterbenz before, but she won me over. Her own tracks ‘Shadows’, ‘The End of the Affair’ and particularly her newest single ‘You don’t Think I Love You, which features on her upcoming album, out February 2026, drew me in and impressed me. However, it was her cover of the Fleetwood Mac track ‘The Chain’ that sealed the deal and made me a fan. Looking forward to hearing more from her.
This tour promised to give fans a nostalgic sweep of the tracks of the band’s iconic debut album, while also leaving room for spontaneity, with the band taking requests from the audience. They delivered on this and more. While the stage was being set, frontman Brendan B Brown leaned over the barrier and began taking song requests from the fans at the front, who were only delighted to have the open forum available to them. Yet again, an unusual move, but a sign of what was to come.
Brown began the show by thanking the audience for coming out to see them and introduced every member of the band, notably Jimenez, who he remarked was returning to perform with them for the first time since 2001. Anecdotal remarks were sprinkled between songs with Brown sharing that when they began as a band, they were told to drop the fourth member in a bid to follow suit with the likes of Blink-182, which they declined as it wouldn’t have been great for their working relationship. The audience had full control in the room for this one granted by Brown, who called on them for their most desired tracks to be played. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to stay long enough to hear the anthem ‘Teenage Dirtbag’ which I’ve no doubt, featured in the night but the few I did hear, ‘Lemonade’, ‘A Little Respect’, ‘Freak On’ and ‘Yank in Amsterdam’ lit the place up with pure nostalgia in a way that only a band like Wheatus can do.
Whether you’ve been a fan since the start, you’re new to their music or you simply love a night of great live music, get yourself out to see Wheatus this winter. It will be worth it!
Gabrielle Sterbenz photos:
Wheatus photos & set-list:
Set-list:
American in Amsterdam
A Little Respect (Erasure cover)
My Girl (The Temptations cover)
Freak On
Lemonade
Hump’Em N’ Dump’Em (Included interpolation of Material Girl)
Leroy
Punk Ass Bitch (Jackie Chan version)
Basket Case (Green Day cover)
I Am What I Is
Christmas Dirtbag
Growing on Me (The Darkness cover)
Truffles
Wannabe Gangstar
Pretty Girl
Fourteen
Real Girl
Sunshine
Love Is a Mutt From Hell
I’d Never Write a Song About You
Hey, Mr. Brown
Teenage Dirtbag
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This Island